Heel protector



Feb. 5, 1929.

E. E. SMART HEEL PROTECTOR Filed July 5, 1928 Pastas ,Feb, -5, .1929.

M 1,701,018 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1mm in. mar, or wants, arms.

Application fled July 5,

The present invention relates to an immovement in heel protectors and has for its principal object to provide a device for detachable association with the heel and rear 6 portion of the drivers shoes that rest on the floor of the car while driving an automobile. The invention is particularly adapted for the protection of the heels of ladies shoes when driving a motor car so that the heels and back portions of the shoes or slippers will not become marked anddisfi red b reason of their contact with the oor an operative parts of the automobile.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a heel protector of the above menioned character that can be readily and easily clamped on the heel por-. tion of the shoe and furthermore can be uickly detached therefrom whenever desire A fur her object is to provide a heel rotector of the above mentioned character w ich is simple in construction, combination and arrangement of the various elements forming the invention as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings forming part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in. which:

In the dra 39 Figure 1 is a side elevation showing by impfioved heel protector clamped on a ladys s cc,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through e ic Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of-the heel protector, and

F gure 41s a detail perspective view of the frame forming a salient'part of the present invention.

illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved heel protector, the same comprising a frame, 2. This .frame in- 4? eludes the upper and lower substantially U.- sha ed spring metal clamps 3 and 4 respective y, the upper clamps being of such size as to snugly engage with the rear portion of the. shoe while the lower clamp engages snugly with the lower edge portion of the heel.

These spring clamps are secured together in proper s aced relation by'means of the vertically disposed spring strips 5, the same being secured at their upper ends the free ends of the U-shaped spring clamp rmgwhile the' lower end portionof these vertically dis- In the drawing wherein for the purpose of 1928, serial in. 890,588.

posed strips 5 are secured to the free end of the" arms of the lower U-shaped spring clamp {1.

As elearlyshown in Figure 4, these spring strips are slightly curved 1n order to conform to the curvature ofthe sides of the counter or back portion of the shoe. As also observed more clearly from this particular fi re, the lower extremities of the spring strips 5 are directed inwardly as at 6.

A fabric covering 7 ijs'dis'p'osed over the lower U-sha ped spring clamp Land ada ted for disposit on against the lower edge 0 the spring clamp 4 in the bottom faces of the inwardly directed extremities 6 is the rubber bottom 8 that is stitched to the fabric covering 2 as at 9 and as is clearly shown in Figure This rubber bottom is slit inwardly as at 10 at the central portionthereof whereby the strips 5 may be spread apart to facilitate the placing of the heel rotector on the rear portion of the shoe and the heel of the shoe will rest on the fabric covered upper face of the covered thus preventing the parts from com ing in actual contact with the shoe and marring or otherwise defacing the same.

'The rotector can be readil and easily snappe on to the back and hes of a shoe as shown in Figure 1 to properly protect this part of the shoe when the back portion of the shoe is placed on the floor and the operative parts 0 the automobile when driving.

. The spring clamp will r0 erly hold the protector on the shoe and urt ermore a protector can be readily and easily removed whenever desired and when worn will not cause any discomfort to the wearer. The use of a ru her bottom unit of the character shown and described enables the device to be usedon shoes having heels of different shapes andsizes.

The simplicity of my device enables'the same to be manufactured at a very low cost and will at all times be positive and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment, it is obvious that my invention is susceptible to various changesand modifications in construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I accordingly claim all the upper U-shaped clamp and at their lowerends to the free ends of the arms of the lower ll-shaped clamp, a covering for the frame,

- said frame being entirely enclosed within the covering, and a piece of a rubber covering the bottom of the frame and secured to the covering, said piece of rubber being slit inwardly from the forward edge.

2. A heel protector of the class described comprising a frame including upper and lower substantially U-shaped spring clamps for clamping engagement with the counter and heel portion of a shoe respectively, vertical strips of spring'metal connectedat their I upper ends to the free ends of the arms of the upper U-sbaped clam and at their lower ends to the free ends of t e arms of the lower U-sha ed clamp, a covering for the frame, said rame being entirely enclosed within the covering, a iece of arubber covering the bottom of the rame and secured to the covering, said piece of rubber being slit inward- 1 from the forward edge, the lower ends of t e vertical strips being directed inwardly for engagement across the upper face of the forward edge portion of the slit rubber bottom.

3. A heel protector of the class described comprising aframe including upper and lower substantially U-shaped spring clamps for clamping engagement with the counter and heel portion of a shoe respectively, vertical strips of spring metal connected at their upper ends to the free ends of the arms of the upper U-sha-ped clamp, said strips being connected adjacent their lower ends to the free ends of the arms of the lower U-shaped clamp, the lower extremities of the strip vbeing bent inwardly for engagement with the bottom of the heel, and a covering for the frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. EVABT E. SMART. 

